Can a Wireless Printer Be Used With Cables?
By Steve Hane
Most printers with a wireless feature will also have the capability to be connected with a cable as well. USB is the most common port found on printers since 2000. Some wireless printers will also have an Ethernet port, to connect to a Local Area Network (LAN).
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is one of the most common ways a printer is connected wirelessly. Wi-Fi uses radio signals with the IEEE 802.11 technology to connect devices through a wireless router to a LAN. Typically, Wi-Fi has a range of about 120 feet (37 meters).
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is another wireless connection option that uses low-powered radio transmissions in the 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) range to reach about 33 feet (10 meters) with its lower-class devices, or up to 328 feet (100 meters) with its high-class devices.
USB Cable
USB, or Universal Serial Bus, has become a standard method for connecting computer peripherals such as printers. Most printers will be capable of being connected to computers by a USB cable.
Ethernet Cable
Ethernet cables allowed a wired connection to a LAN. Printers that offer a Wi-Fi connection option may also have an Ethernet port that will accept a standard RJ45 connector.
Check Your Manual
To determine what cables can be used to connect your wireless printer, check your printer's manual or the support website of your printer's manufacturer.
References
Writer Bio
Steve Hane has been a professional aerial photographer since 2005. In 2006, he became a licensed realtor in Maryland. He has published work and given presentations on subjects such as standardizing psychological autopsies, suicide terrorism and re-entry planning for inmates. Hane holds an M.A. in forensic psychology from Marymount University.